In the era of this automobile technology, the Chevy 350 engine is unique in work, and it is very powerful. It is also essential to understand its ability and work. In this article, you can learn how the Small Block (SBC) and Big Block (BBC) versions have their unique ways of firing up.
The small block engine has its pattern, 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, but the Big Block engine has a unique arrangement. Each engine shows its design and pattern.
But you can quickly examine the pattern effect of these powerful engines here, I will tell you how to understand the Chevy 350 in a better way.
Also, check LS Firing Order and Cylinder Numbers [Diagram]
What Is The Firing Order For All Engines?
Crankshaft arrangement is a unique way to describe the understanding of engine parts setup. The V8 engine, like the Chevy 350, follows a pattern of 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.
Other companies like GM, Chrysler, and some Ford engines also used this unique and efficient pattern. But the Chevy 351 engine has its pattern.
The Ford engines have a unique order because of how they label their cylinders, but their firing sequence is the same as the Chevy 350. The LSX engine series also has a unique pattern so the firing order I talk about does not apply to them. They have their unique way of firing up.
Chevy 350 (5.7 Vortec) Firing Order
The Revolutionary Small-Block V8
Chevrolet introduced a unique engine in 1955 known as the small-block V8 engine. This engine is so sufficient that it introduced new inventions and new technologies in the automotive sector. It had a 256 cubic inch (approximately 4.3 liters) engine at initially.
The Birth of the Chevy 350
In 1967, this engine became more powerful day by day. They made it into a 350-cubic-inch monster, and it debuted in a car called the Camaro. For starters, the Chevy 350 was built on the 327-block, an older engine, but it had a brand-new crankshaft with a 3.48-inch stroke.
The Chevy 350 Takes Over the Roads
The Chevy 350 engine was then introduced to a variety of automobiles. It moves motorbikes, boats, robust off-road vehicles, fast race cars, and standard cars.
Chevrolet included it in well-known vehicles such as the Cadillac, Buick, Corvette, and Caprice. People like it because it is incredibly dependable, operates silently, and has adjustable settings for even greater results.
Specifications of the Chevy 350 Engine
The Chevy 350 engine is currently a 5.7L, 350 cubic inch small-block V8 engine. It has a 3.48-inch stroke and a 4.00 bore as well. A car’s horsepower might range from 145 to 370 according to its model and year, and its torque is 380 pound-feet, making it a superb option for towing.
HEI Distributor Chevy 350 Firing Order
The HIE distributor cap is very important for moving electrical energy from the ignition coil to the spark plug. It is small in size but an essential part of the ignition mechanism.
Firing Order in HEI Distributor Caps for SBC V8 Engines
The HEI distributor cap for SBC V8 engines moves in a clockwise direction and adheres to a set firing order. Usually, the spark plugs are firing in the proper order; the number one location on the HEI distributor cap is not essential.
An efficient engine must follow the firing order to work correctly. It has a direct effect on ignition event timing, which is important for engine efficiency and performance.
Matching Firing Order: HEI Distributor vs. Engine Point Distributor
For Chevy 350 engines, the firing order for HEI distributor caps is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Moreover, this firing order is consistent with the Chevy point distributor work uniformity in ignition systems.
SBC Firing Order (Small Block)
Because small-block Chevy (SBC) engines are more minor than big-block Chevy (BBC) engines, they are called “small-block” engines.
Their displacement is from 262 to 400 cu in, while the BBC’s ranges from 348 to 572 cu in.
The small-block V8 engines produced by Chevy have the same firing order, which implies that the SBC firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. These include the 262, 265, 267, 283, 302, 327, 350, and 400 small-block motors.
To determine which cylinder number is one, position yourself in front of the engine on the driver’s side, glance in the back, and determine it. Cylinders are numbered in a pattern that runs from left to right.
Every alternate number starts on the left and moves rightward.
Even Cylinders with Numbers:
On the right side of the engine are all of the cylinders with even numbers.
Cylinders with Odd Numbers:
On the driver’s side of the engine, however, are the cylinders with odd numbers.
Firing Order Compatibility with Big Block Chevy Engines
- 283 Chevy
- 302 Chevy
- 305 Chevy
- 307 Chevy
- 327 Chevy
- 350 Chevy (yes, the 5.7L)
- 400 Chevy
Certainly, the most efficient engine, like LS1 through LS7, fires uniquely from standard small-block Chevys. They work in a different order, 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3, instead of the standard 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. This firing order is slightly changed from other small-block Chevys.
BBC Firing Order (Big Block)
It is important to line up the distributor rotor with the first spark plug terminal on the distributor cap while the piston is at TDC (Top Dead Center) during the compression stroke. This action is important for optimal engine performance.
Universal Application of BBC Firing Order
Chevy engines are not the only vehicles covered by the BBC firing order. It is also used in V8 engines made by GM, Chrysler, Ford Windsor, and other manufacturers, excluding the 351 engine. Their universal application is highlighted by the fact that even though GM may label their cylinders differently, the firing sequence is still similar to the Chevy 350.
Firing Order Compatibility with Big Block Chevy Engines
- 366 Chevy
- 396 Chevy
- 402 Chevy (Sometimes referred to as a 396)
- 427 Chevy
- 454 Chevy
- 502 Chevy
Chevy 350, SBC, and BBC Firing Order Comparison Table
Engine Type | Firing Order | Displacement (cu in) Range | Year of Introduction |
---|---|---|---|
Chevy 350 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 | 350 | 1967 |
Small Block Chevy | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 | 262-400 | 1955 |
Big Block Chevy | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 | 348-572 | 1958 |
LS1 to LS7 | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 | Various | Late 1990s to 2000s |
Chevy 5.3L | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 | 5.3 | The early 2000s |
Chevy Small Block and Big Block Cylinder Numbers
In small and big block engine cylinder orders are same. This shows that the order remains the same whether it is a little block, such as 302, 305, 307, 327, 350, or 400, or a large block, such as 348, 366, 396, 402, 409, 427, 454, or 502. This makes it easier to identify cylinders straight out of the factory.
Therefore, the engine’s first cylinder, designated number 1, is located on the left side up front where the driver sits. On side number 1, on the same side, are the additional odd-numbered cylinders, such as 3, 5, and 7. The passenger right side has the even-numbered cylinders 2, 4, 6, and 8, with cylinder number 2 directly across from cylinder number 1.